MCAT Score Percentiles 2026: What Your Score Really Means
Understanding MCAT scores is confusing. The test is scored on a scale from 472 to 528, with four sections each scored 118-132. But what does a 512 actually mean? How does it compare to other test-takers? And what do medical schools really look for?
How MCAT Scoring Works
The MCAT has four sections, each scored on a scale of 118-132:
- Chemical and Physical Foundations (CP): 59 questions, 95 minutes
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS): 53 questions, 90 minutes
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations (BB): 59 questions, 95 minutes
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations (PS): 59 questions, 95 minutes
Your total score is the sum of all four sections: 472 (lowest) to 528 (highest). The median score is approximately 500.
2026 MCAT Percentile Chart
This table shows what percentage of test-takers scored at or below each score:
| Total Score | Percentile | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 524-528 | 99-100% | Elite — top 1% of all test-takers |
| 520-523 | 97-98% | Exceptional — competitive for top 20 schools |
| 518-519 | 95-96% | Excellent — strong for any MD program |
| 515-517 | 90-94% | Very strong — above average for matriculants |
| 512-514 | 83-89% | Good — at or above median for MD matriculants (~511.9) |
| 510-511 | 78-82% | Competitive — solid for most MD programs |
| 508-509 | 73-77% | Average for MD applicants |
| 506-507 | 66-72% | Below average for MD, strong for DO |
| 504-505 | 58-65% | Competitive for DO programs |
| 500-503 | 48-57% | Median — consider retaking for MD |
| 496-499 | 35-47% | Below median — retake recommended |
| 492-495 | 23-34% | Significantly below average |
| 490 or below | <20% | Retake strongly recommended |
Section Score Percentiles
| Section Score | Percentile | Section Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 132 | 100% | 125 | 56% |
| 131 | 99% | 124 | 40% |
| 130 | 97% | 123 | 27% |
| 129 | 95% | 122 | 16% |
| 128 | 90% | 121 | 9% |
| 127 | 82% | 120 | 5% |
| 126 | 72% | 118-119 | 1-2% |
What Score Do Medical Schools Want?
The answer depends on the school:
- Top 20 MD programs (Harvard, Johns Hopkins, etc.): Median ~521 (99th percentile)
- Mid-tier MD programs: Median ~512-515 (85-92nd percentile)
- Average MD program: Median ~510 (80th percentile)
- DO programs: Median ~504-506 (60-68th percentile)
How to Interpret Practice Test Scores
Estimate your total and percentile from your section scores with our free MCAT score calculator, or browse the full MCAT percentile chart.
Practice test scores from third-party companies (including ours) are approximations of your actual MCAT score. Here's how to use them:
- Your first FL will be lower than your eventual score. Expect to improve 5-10 points with dedicated studying.
- Average your last 3 FLs for the best prediction of your actual score.
- AAMC FLs are most accurate — take these in the final 4 weeks of studying.
- Third-party tests tend to be slightly harder than the real MCAT — a 510 on DoctorMCAT likely means 512+ on the real thing.
Track your scores over time using our performance analytics to see your trajectory and identify persistent weak areas.
Should You Retake?
Consider retaking if:
- Your score is more than 3 points below your target school's median
- You had a bad test day (illness, anxiety, technical issues)
- You can identify specific gaps that more studying would fix
- Your score increased significantly between practice tests (upward trend)
Do NOT retake if your practice test scores were consistently in the same range as your actual score — more studying won't help unless you change your approach.